Statistical card comparing machine



Sept. 10, 1940. J BRAUN) 2,214,010

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed July' 12, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR KARL J. BRAUN ATTORN EY Sept. 10, 1940. K, J, BRAUN STATISTICALCARD commune MACHINE- Filed July 12, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 mNm mum .mm

mun mm m3 INVENTOR KARL J.BRAUN TTORNEY Sept. 10, 1940. K, J BRAUN2,214,010

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 3'INVENTOR KARL J. BRAUN A ORNEY Sept. 10, 1940.

MASTERCARD RECEIVER DETAILCARD RECEIVER MASTER CARD E J E CT DETAIL CARDK. J. BRAUN STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed July'l2, 1939MASTERCARD SENSING MASTERCARD MECHANISM MAGAZINE MASTERCARD SENS.CHAM

b MASTER cARD READING RETAINING MECHANISM l COMPARING I MECHANISM MASTERCARD DETAIL cARD COMPARING COMPARING PIN I PIN ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY PUNCHDETAIL CARD TRANSLATOR TRANSLATOR SETP|N UPPER BASKET PIN Box AND P UNCHGAGS DETAILCARD PUNCH CHAN. SENS CHAM.

DETAILCARD SENSING MECHANISM FIG. 6

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 DETAIL CARD MAGAZINE INVENTOR KARL J. BRAUN Patentedl0,

Remington Rand Inc. tionof Delaware Bnflalo, N, Y., a corpora- 1Application July 12,1939, Serial No. 284,075

6 Claims. (c1.1s4-114) This invention relates to machines for comparingperioration patterns in different records, and, particularly, to meansfor variably controlling thepunching of additional perforations inselected records, as the result of the comparison, or non-comparison, ofthe compared perforation patterns.

An embodiment of the invention is shown herein as applied to aStatistical card comparing mam chine, such as that disclosed in theco-pending application of Karl J. Braun, S. N. 228,381, filed September3, 1938, now Patent No. 2,211,094, dated August 13, 1940. Machines ofthe type shown in said patent are used in accounting or statisticalsystems in which master records are used in conjunction with detailrecords. In these systems, it is desirable to compare pre-puncheddesignative data contained in detail records with correspondingpre-punched data in the master records, and

to control or effectvarious other operations in connection with suchrecords in accordance with the comparison-or non-comparison, of theprepunched data. y

In the machine disclosed in the cited patent, either of-three types ofoperations can be performed, namely,

1. Record sorting, 2. Record punching, or 3. Stopping the machine'(e.g., to permit the in- 'sertion' of control records at-desired points inthe run of compared records).

Each of these operations may be-efiected selectively or in combinationwith eitheror both of the others upon the sensingof a comparison, or

45 lem, inconjunction with any desired combination of the abovementioned sorting, punching and stopping operations." Furthermoraanoper-' ation selector mechanism is provided whereby a given machine maybe preconditioned, in accordance withthe several individual typ s ofrecord handling problems that may arise in a given accounting orstatistical system, to effect selectively any one of a plurality of-thevarious available 55 combinational operations of record sorting,

detail records to be handled, in a particular prob I positions, wherebya statistical card comparing 5 'machine may be arranged to efiectany oneof eight of such combinational operations selec-: tively.

The present invention provides, as its principal object, an improvedform of operation selector mechanism whereby the number of difierentcombinational operations that may be performed on a given machine may besubstantially increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forcontrolling record punching in such machines in accordance with thesensing of a comparison, or non-comparison, between designativeperforation patterns in master and 29 detail records.

A preferred form of the invention is disclosed in the appended drawings,in which,

Fig. 1 is a conventionalized left'side elevation of the invention, inconjunction with the elements of a statistical card comparing machinethat cooperate therewith, showing the relative positions of the severalelements when the machine is in normal or stopping position;

Fig. 1A. is a view taken along the line AA of 30 Fig. 1 showing therelative positions of the operation selector dial and the punch controllever;

Fig. 1B is a detail of the inner ratchet of the control device actuatingmechanism;

Fig. 1C is a detail of the outer ratchet of the 35 control deviceactuating mechanism; I a

.Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the mechanismof Fig. 1,showing theseveral elements in operated position at the time the lockingslides for the punch set pins are fully re- 40 tracted;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the operation selector mechanism, takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the control mechanism for thepunch set pin retract mechanism, taken substantially along the line 4-4of .F 1; v

Fig. 5 is a timing diagram;

Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of the principal elements of astatistical card comparing machine of the type disclosed in the abovementioned patent; and V Fig. 7 is a chart illustrating the variousgroups of combinational card handling operations that tion isparticularly adapted to function, is includ-' ed hereinafter. For adetailed description of such machine, reference may be had to saidpatent.

Surrsrrcu. CARD Comraamc MACHINEBASIC MECHANISM In machines'of the typedisclosed in the cited patent, detail cards are placed in a detail cardmagazine I10 (see Fig. 6) and are passed seriatim to suitable feed rollswhereby they are conveyed, first, to the detail card sensing chamber inwhich their perforated data is analyzed, and second, to a punch chamberin which additional data may be perforated in the cards. From the punchchamber, the detail cards are conveyed either to a receiver pocket 21 orto an eject pocket 28, depending on the setting of the card sortingcontrol mechanism and the character of the designative data in thecards. During the period in which a detail card is held in the detailcard sensing chamber, the perforation pattern therein is sensed by pinsin a reciprocating detail card sensing mechanism whereby a mechanicalrepresentation of such perforation pattern is transmitted, by means ofpins in an upper pin box and translator wires in a translator 255, to

the detail card comparing pin assembly 445 of the comparing mechanism.

The master cards are placed in a master card magazine 290 and are passedseriatim to suitable feed rolls whereby they are conveyed to the mastercard sensing chamber in which their perforated data is analyzed. Fromthe master card sensing chamber, the master cards are conveyed either toa receiver pocket 25 or to an eject pocket 26, depending on the settingof the card sorting control mechanism and the character of thedesignative data in the cards. During the 'period in which a master cardis held in the Comparing mechanism In the comparing mechanism, themechanical representations of perforation patterns'in simultaneouslysensed master and detail cards are mechanically compared, and theoccurrence of a comparison, or non-comparison, between such perforationpatterns is utilized to control or vary machine operations. A knowledgeof the specific construction and manner of operation of the comparingmechanism is not essential to an understanding of the present invention,but may be obtained from the cited patent. Insofar as the presentinvention is concerned, it is sufficient to understand that the movementof the pins in the master and detail card comparing pin assembnesjzs'andm, in accordance with the, perforation patterns in master and detailcards, is

effective to determine the position of certain comparing slides 410, oneof which is partially illustrated in. Fig.1. The construction andarrangement ofthe comparing mechanism is such that in the event thecompared perforation patterns are identical, the slides 410 are free tomove to the left topermit leftward movement of a comparing slide sensingbail rod 640 as in Fig. 1, whereas, if either pattern contains aperforation for which there is no counterpart ln'the other, one or moreof the slides 410 are blocked and serve to prevent the leftward movementof bail rod 640. The manner in which bail rod 640 is operated to sensethe position of comparing slides 410 is described hereinafter under theheading Control deviceactuating mechanism.

' Punch mechanism Inorder to effect the transfer of all or part of themaster card perforation patterns to detail cards, means are provided topass each detail card through a'punch mechanism, settable under controlof the master cards, wherein such transferring operation may beeffected. The punch mechanism employed herein is identical to that inthe cited patent but is provided with an improved control mechanism,hereinafter described, whereby punching may beefiected selectively inaccordance with the comparison, or non-comparison between perforationpatterns in master and detail cards.

Essentially, the punch mechanism includes a punch translator fortransmitting mechanical representations of master card perforationpatterns; a reciprocable set pin box, including set pins for sensing andretaining the mechanical representations of perforation patterns sotransmitted, and punch gags for perforating detail cards in accordancewith the setting of the set pins; a retract mechanism to cancel or erasethe setting of the set pins; and a punch chamber in which the detailcards are retained during punching operations.

In order to transmit mechanical representations of master cardperforation patterns from the master card sensing mechanism to the punchset pins, a removable punch translator 485 (Figs. 1 and 6) provided,with a plurality of rows of translator wires 490, is arranged beneaththe master card comparing pin assembly 425. By this arrangement thedepression of any pin in the master card comparing pin assembly, undercontrol of a sensing pin in the master card sensing mechanism, resultsin the depression of the corresponding translator wire 490. Thus, ineach machine cycle a mechanical representation of a master cardperforationpattern is registered by depressed translator wires 49!],and, due to the arrangement of the locking mechanism for the pins in thereading retaining mechanism, such registration is retained until thesucceeding master card is sensed.

Mounted beneath punch translator 485 (Figs. 1 and .6) is a reciprocableset pin box 55 provided with a plurality of rows of spring urged setpins 500 which, when depressed, may be locked in their lower positionsby spring urged locking slides 502. During the first half of eachmachine cycle, set pin box 495 is movedupwardly (see also Fig. 5), bycomplementary cams Sill keyed to a cam shaft 50, to force set pins 500against all translator wires 49!) that 'are held depressed in accordancewith the perforation patof any depressed set pin 500 by its associatedlocking slide 502.

suflicient to permit the locking Thus, during the mid-portion of themachine cycle following that in which a master card is sensed, themechanical representation of the master card perforation depressedtranslator wires set pins 500. During the box 495 is elevated, thedetail card that was sensed in the preceding cycle is passed into the490, is transferred to punch chamber, which comprises an upper stripperplate 523 and a lower die plate 520. During the latter part of eachmachine cycle, set pin box 455 is moved downwardly by cams 5H) and thelocked set pins 500 are effective to force the associated punch gags 5",through the detail card, now in the punch chamber, whereby theperforation pattern contained in the master. card is reproduced in thedetail card.

To prevent error in the reproduction of perforation patterns, set pinbox 495 is provided with means to retract the set-up made by thepreceding master card during the time a new master card set-up is made.For this purpose, a retract bail bar 54! (Figs. 1 and 2), arranged tocoact with the rearward ends of all locking slides 502, is pivotallysupported by a pair of arms 542 fast on a rock shaft 543 suitablyjournaled inthe machine. A vertical face 545 on the rearward edge ofeach arm 542 is arranged, during the entire vertical movement of set pinbox 495, to ride against a roller 546 on an arm 54'! fast to a transverse rock shaft 548 journaled in a bracket 558. Fixed to the left endof shaft 548 is an arm connected, by a link 552, to an arm 553 which ispivoted at 554 and provided with a follower roller 555 thatcoacts with acam 56!! keyed to cam shaft 58. The arrangement of the punch set pinretract mechanism is such that immediately after set pin box 495 reachesits highest position (see also Fig. 5), cam 56B is eifective momentarilyto shift bail bar 54! and all looking slides 592 to the right, againstthe tension of their springs, to release all previously depressed setpins 500. In the event the new perforation pattern does not containcorresponding perforations, all previously depressed pins 568 arerestored to their upper positions by their springs; whereas, all setpins 506 that correspond to the new perforation pattern are held intheir lower positions by depressed translator wires 48!), and are lockedin such position by the return of locking slides 562 after followerroller 555 rides off the high dwell of cam 56!].

' Control! device As completely disclosed in the above cited patent,each of the mechanisms, for effecting or varying machine functions suchas card feeding, sorting, punching, and stopping the machine, as theresult of the sensing of a comparison, or noncomparison, in theperforation patterns of master and detail cards, are actuated byindividual control cams which may be rendered effective either singly orin combination, as desired, and are arranged for step-by-step operationby common actuating mechanism under control of the comparing mechanism.For convenience, the several control cams and their associatedmechanisms, the manually settable means for rendering the control camseffective, and the control cam actuating mechanism, are referred to asthe Control device.

Eac h of the several i a machine of this type is secured to a sleeve 600.(Figs: .1', 2, and 3) ".'of the'control cams pattern, registered byinterval that set pin master and detail ent "manner when not "compare.arranged to lie-actuated to effect their respective CONTROLDEVICE-ACTUATINd Macnlmism control cams employed in rotatably mounted ona stud 5M mounted on'the frame of the machine. Each I is arranged tocontrol its associated mechanism in one manner when the perforationpatterns in simultaneously sensed cards compare, and in a differ-Therefore, the control cams are functions'whenever a non-comparison issensed after a cycle in which a comparison was sensed and, also,whenever a comparison is sensed after a cycle in" which a non-comparisonwas sensed. To effect the requisite movement of the control cams, anactuating mechanism, operable under control of the comparing mechanism,is provided to. cause recurrent step-by-step movement of sleeve 600.This mechanism comprises an inner ratchet-"605 (see Fig. 1B) and anouter ratchet 5|5 (see Fig.:1C), each provided with four equally spacedteeth, 506 and H6, respectively, and having blank spaces, equivalent toa tooth space, between adjacent teeth. Both ratchets are fast to sleeve50D but are offset relative to each other so that teeth BIB of ratchet6| 5 are intermediate to teeth 606 of ratchet 605 wherebyfi'n effect,they form an eight toothed ratchet. Coacting with ratchet 605 is anactuating pawl 608, urged clockwise by a light spring (not shown),carried by the horizontal arm of a lever 518 which is pivoted on a framestud BI! and is urged counterclockwise by a spring (not shown). Coactingwith ratchet 5|5 is an actuating pawl B18, urged clockwise by a spring615, carried by a lever 625 which is also pivoted on stud 5H and isurged counter-clockwise by a spring 622. The arrangement of ratchets695, M5, and pawls 6118, H8 is such that during machine cycles followingthose in which a comparison is sensed, pawl 5B8 registers with a blankspace on ratchet 505, whereas, pawl (H8 is adapted to register with atooth M5 on ratchet M5. However, when levers 6H) and 620 are in theirlowermost positions, a stud 623 on pawl 6B8 coacts with a cam surface624 on pawl Git whereby pawl 6 I8 is moved counter-clockwise against thetension of sprin SIS to prevent the engagement of the pawl with a tooth6 It.

For operating pawls 608 and H8, an oifset push rod 825, provided at itsupper end with an abutment 625 arranged to coact with levers Bill and628, is connectedto an arm 62'! pivoted at 628 and provided with afollower roller E29 coacting with a cam 63!) keyed to front cam shaft40. The arrangement of cam 63!) (see also Fig. 5) is such that levers61B and 620 are held in their uppermost position by push rod 625 andabutment 626 during the greater part of each cycle, but are urgeddownwardly by their springs at approximately 30 before the end of thecycle, and reach their lowermost positions at the end of the cycle.Thus, during the early part of each cycle, push rod 625 is elevated and,in the event either pawl such perforation patterns do eral positions. 7

In order to effect an actuation of sleeve 600 whenever there is anon-comparison between master and detail card perforation patterns in a.I

cycle following one in which there was a comparison, and vice versa,means are provided to sense the positions of comparing slides 410 of'the comparing mechanism. during each cycle, and to controlactuatingpawls 605 and H5 accordingly. For this purpose-,'a vertical link 636 isjoined by a pin-in-slot connection to lever 620 and is connected at itsupper end to the horizontal arm of a bell-crank 631 pivotallymounted ona trans verse rock shaft 638. Secured to shaft 638 is a pair of arms 639supporting a bail rod 640 which is adapted, through manually settableinterponents 416,tosense the position of comparing-slides 410. Also faston rock shaft 638 is an oblique arm 64! which is spring urged intoengagement with a limit stud 642-on the pendant arm of bell-crank 631,and is provided with a cutaway shoulder 644 arranged to engage a latchface 645 on the upwardly extending arm of lever 6l 0. The entireassembly comprising'shaft 638, bell-crank 631, and arms 639 and 64! isurged counter-clockwise by a comparatively strong spring 643, extendedbetween the horizontal arm of the bell-crank and a frame stud. I

At the beginning of each cycle, cam 630 elevates push rod 625and,through lever 620, link 636, bell-crank 631, and arm 64!, rocks shaft638 clockwise to move bail rod 640 out of engagement with interponents416. Toward the end of each cycle, shortly after comparing slides 410are positioned, follower roller 629 rides into the low dwell of cam 630,thereby lowering lever 620 and link 636, and thereby permitting spring643 to urge bell-crank 631 and shaft 638 counter-clockwise. In the eventall comparing slides 410 in the columns containing designative data arefree to move leftwardly, as in the case when the compared perforationpatterns in master and detail cards are identical, bail rod 640 is freeto move leftwardly, whereby shaft 638 rocks counterclockwiseandwithdraws shoulder 644 on arm 64| from the path of movement of latchface 645 as lever 6|0 is rocked counter-clockwise. In this case,whenlevers 6 I 0 and 620 rock to their lowermost positions, pawl 608rides on a blank space of ratchet 605, and stud 623 coacts with cam face624 to prevent the engagement of pawl 6l8 with ratchet -6l5. Thus, whena cycle in which a comparison is sensed follows a cycle in which acomparison was sensed, no movement is imparted to sleeve 600, and thecontrol cams thereon function in the same manner as in the precedingcycle. However, in the event one or more comparing slides 410 are heldin their extreme rightward positions when shaft 638 is urgedcounterclockwise, as in the case when the perforation patterns in masterand detail cards are not identical, bail rod 640 is prevented frommoving leftwardly, whereby shaft 638 is held in rocked position andretains shoulder 644 on arm 64! in the path of movement of latch face645. In this case, lever 6) is held in its uppermost position as lever620 descends. Thus, stud 623 is ineffective to prevent the engagement ofpawl 6l8, whereby spring 6|9 engages pawl 6 I 8 with a tooth M6 onratchet 6l5 when lever 620 reaches its lowermost position. Immediatelythereafter, push rod 625 is again elevated to actuate lever 620 and pawl6l8 which, in turn, actuate sleeve 600. Thus, when a cycle in which anon-comparison 9,214,010 is provided to center sleeve 600 in each of itssevis sensed follows a cycle in which a comparison was sensed, sleeve600 is rotated throughone step by lever 620, and the several controlcams thereon are positioned to control their associated mechanismsaccordingly.

In the event another non comparison is sensed at the end of thesucceeding cycle, lever 6" is retained in its uppermost position, asabove. In this case, since pawl H8 is now in register with a blank spaceon ratchet 6l 5, lever 620 moves idly and no further movement isimparted to sleeve 600. This condition is maintained as long as theperforation patterns in simultaneously sensed master and detail cards donot compare. However, when the next comparison is sensed, bail rod 640and shaft 638 are free to rock counter-clockwise, and serve to disengageshoulder 644 from latch face 645 to permit lever 6l0 to follow. push rod625 downwardly. In this case, since pawl 608 is now in register with atooth 606 on ratchet 605, the subsequent elevation of push rod 625 iseffective to actuate sleeve 600. Thus, when a cycle in which acomparison is sensed follows a cycle in which a non-comparison wassensed, sleeve 600 is rotated through one step by lever 610, and theseveral control cams thereon are positioned to control their associatedmechanisms accordingly.

Punch retract control mechanism In punched card systems involving thecomparison between designative perforation patterns in master and detailcards, it is frequently desirable that additional data be transferredfrom the master cards to the detail cards. As heretofore stated, astatistical card comparing machine of the type disclosed in the citedpatent comprises a punch mechanism, settable in accordance with theperforation patterns in master cards, whereby one or more columns ofinformation in a master card may be transferred to one or more detailcards. In addition, the patent discloses a control mechanism for thepunch set pin retract mechanism whereby the machine may be set to 1.Punch additional data in comparing detail cards and prevent punching ofadditional data in non-comparing detail cards, or

2. Punch additional data in non-comparing detail cards and preventpunching of additional data in comparing detail cards.

- the second of these operations be performed, it

is necessary to place a second control cam I10, offset 45? from thefirst mentioned control cam, on sleeve 600, and to provide a separatelinkage for the punch retract mechanism, operable thereby. Then, thesecond control cam, when manually rendered effective at a differentsetting of the operation selector dial, is operative under control ofthe comparing mechanism to prevent punching in comparing detail cards,and to permit punching in non-comparing cards. Thus, if an accountingsystem requires that both of the above mentioned operations beperformed, a

statistical card comparing machine for doing this work, having a controlmechanism of the type disclosed in the cited patent, must be providedwith two punch retract control cams and their associated linkages, and,further, a different dial position on the operation selector dial isrequired for each card handling operation, involving card punching, thatis to be performed.

To eliminate this duplication of elements and to permit a .greaterselection of diiferent card handling operations under control of theoperation selector dial, the present invention provides means'operableby a single control cam for controlling theoperation of the punch setpin retract mechanism, whereby punching may be prevented when acomparison or a non-comparison occurs, as desired, and, further,provides an individual, manually settable control to permit theselection of any desired type of punching operation by itself, or inconjunction with any combinational operation or sorting and/or stoppingthat may be selected by the operation selector dial.

As described hereinabove, the set pin box in the punch mechanism isadapted to reciprocate during each machine cycle, and is arranged,during the mid-portion of each cycle, to sense and retain a mechanicalrepresentation of the master card perforation pattern registered bydepressed punch translator wires, and to transfer such perforationpattern to a detail card at the end of the cycle. If it is desired toprevent the transfer of a perforation pattern to a non-comparing detailcard, means must be provided to prevent the retention .of theperforation pattern in the set pin box when a non-comparison is sensed.Further, if it is desired to prevent the transfer of aperforationpattern to a comparing detail card, means must be provided toprevent the retention of the perforation pattern when a comparison issensed.

To prevent the retention of perforation patterns under the conditionsstated, the invention provides two arms 8!!) and. 8!2 (Fig. 1)pivotally, mounted on a stud 8 on arm 55! of the punch set pin retractmechanism. Arms 8!0 and 8!2 are urged together by a light spring 8 5,and each is'provided with a latching shoulder 8! 8l3, respectively,capable of engaging a square stud 8l6 secured to bracket 550. Thearrangement is such that when arm 55! is rocked under control of cam 580near the mid-point of a cycle, to cause the retraction of locking slides502 ,(as in Fig. 2), arms M0 and M2 are raised sufiiciently so thateither latching shoulder 8!! or 8!3, unless prevented by other means,may engage stud 8!6 to prevent downward movement of arm 55! whenfollower 555 rides off the high dwell of cam 560. When such engagementis eflected, all looking slides 502 are held retracted, and all set pins500, depressed in accordance with the perforation pattern registered bydepressed translator wires 490, arerestored by their springs to theirupper position as the set pin box descends later in the cycle. As aresult, the perforation pattern-temporarily set up in the set pin box iscancelled or erased, and set pins 500 are ineffective to cause punchingin a detail card at the end of the cycle. As hereinafter explained, thearrangement of arms M0 and 8!2 is such that arm 8 I 0 may be renderedefiective to engage stud 8 6 to prevent punching when a noncomparison issensed, whereas, arm 8!2 may be rendered eifective to engage stud 8!5 toprevent punching when a comparison is sensed.

To determine which, if either, of the arms 8) or H2 is to be eifectiveduring a given operation,

.link is shifted to the manually settable means are provided to positionthe arms in accordance with the type of operation to be performed. Forthis purpose, a man uallysettable punch control lever 800 (Figs. 1, 1A,2 and 3) is pivotally mounted on a frame stud 652, and is connected atits lower end to a link 80! which is provided with a slot 802,

at its left end, encompassing a shoulder stud 803,

fast on bracket 550, to guide the link for horizontal movement. Theupper end of lever 800 projects through the frame of the machine at apoint adjacent to the operation selector dial (see Fig. 1A), operator,so that it maybe set to either'an upper position (U), a lower position(L),v or an intermediate position (I), in each of which it is re tainedby a spring urged detent pawl 804 (Figs. 1 and 2), pivoted on bracket55!), that engages notches on the lower side of link 80!. Fixed onlink'80! is a stud 805 that projects between arms 8!!) and such thatwhen lever 800 is set in its intermediate position, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, the latching shoulders 8!! and 8!3 of arms 8l0 and 8!2 are heldout of engagement with stud 8 6 at all times.

in a convenientv position for the Thus, when lever 800 is set in itsintermediate position, arms 8! 0 and 8!2 are ineffective to hold lockingslides 502 retracted, whereby the set pin box functions, as describedabove, to sense and retain a master card perforation pattern during each.cycle, and to transfer such pattern to a detail card held in the" punchchamber.

However, when lever 800 is moved to its upper position, link 80! isshifted to the right, from its position in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby stud805 rocks latching shoulder 8!3 on arm 8l2 further out of engagementwith stud 8l6, but frees arm 8! 0 to permitthe engagement of shoulder,8!! with stud 8N5 unless such engagement is prevented by other means,as hereinafter described; whereas, when lever 800 is moved to its lowerposition,

left, from its position in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby stud 805 rockslatching shoulder 8!! on arm 8l0 further out of engagement with stud8I6, but frees arm 8!2 to permit the engagement of shoulder 8!3 withstud '8!6 unless such engagement is prevented by other means, ashereinafter described.

For causing the engagement of arms 8!0.and 8! 2 with stud. M6, toprevent the retention of perforation patterns in the set .pin box undercontrol of the comparing mechanism, a cam (see Figs. 1 and 2), similarin contour to the correspondingly designated cam. in the cited patent,is fixed to sleeve 600 of the control device. Coacting with cam 110 is aroller 71! carried on the horizontal armfof abell-crank 172 pivoted, at113, on the left end of a lever 174 pivotally mounted on frame stud B52.Connected to the pendant arm of bell-crank 112 is a link 820 joined bypin-in-slot connections to a link 82! (see also Fig. 4) to which isfixed a stud 825 that projects between arms 8!!) and 8l2, andis arrangedto coact withthe' inner edges thereof. A comparatively strong spring822, extended' between a stud 823 on link 820 and a stud 824 on link82!, urges zontalmovement, urges-the linkage 820, 82! to 75 the leftand, also, tends to maintain a roller l'll in engagement with the cam "0when the cam is rendered effective to control detail card punching. Withthis arrangement, when roller l'lI is in register with a low dwell ofcam 110, as in the case when a comparison is sensed, spring 826 pullslinkage 820, 82I to the left whereby stud 825 rocks arm 8I0counter-clockwise to prevent the engagement of latching shoulder 8 withstud 8H3 (as in Figs. 1 and 2), and, if stud 805 is momentarilydisregarded, permits the engagement of latching shoulder 8I3 with stud 8I 6. However, when roller III is in register with a high dwell of cam110, as in the case when a non-comparison is sensed, bell-crank I12 isrocked counter-clockwise to pull linkage 820, 82I to the right wherebystud 825 rocks arm 8I2 clockwise to prevent the engagement of latchingshoulder 8| 3 with stud 8I6, and, if stud 805 is momentarilydisregarded, permits the engagement of latching shoulder 8 with stud8I6.

In order to render cam 110 effective, means corresponding to thosedisclosed in the cited patent are provided to select this cam foroperation when selective detail card punching is required. For thispurpose, a cam lug 111 may be placed at any desired position on a disc118 which is secured to sleeve 102 of the operation selector mechanism.Then, when operation selector dial I00 is rotated to a position to placea lug IT! in register with a roller "6, carried on the right end oflever I14, lever I14 is rocked clockwise to elevate pivot "3 wherebyroller I1 I is moved into operative relationship with cam 110 to renderthe cam effective for controlling card punching operations.

By means of the above described mechanism, either of three differenttypes of card punching operations may be effected, in accordance withthe setting of punch control lever 800, at any setting of the operationselector dial I00 in which a cam lug 111 is placed in register withroller "I16 to render punch control cam 110 effective. Thus, the machinemay be set to 1. Punch additional data in comparing detail cards andprevent punching of additional data in non-comparing detail cards, or

2. Punch additional data in non-comparing detail cards and preventpunching of additional data in comparing detail cards, or

3. Punch additional data in all detail cards, whether or not theirdesignative perforation patterns compare with those of the associatedmaster cards.

To effect the first of these operations, punch control lever 800 is setin its upper position U (Fig. 1A) This setting shifts link I to theright and causes stud 805 to rock arm 0I2 clockwise to maintain latchingshoulder 8I3 out of engagement with stud BIB, but tensions spring 8I5 tourge latching shoulder 8| I on arm 8 I 0 into engagement with stud 8I6.During cycles in which a comparison is sensed between master and detailcard designative perforation patterns, a low dwell of cam is in registerwith roller I1 I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that spring 826 holdslinkage 820, 82I to the left whereby stud 825 holds arm 8|0 rockedcounter-clockwise to prevent the engagement of shoulder 8 with stud 8IG.In this position of the parts, shoulder 8| I is ineffective to engagestud 8I6 so that the punch set pin retract mechanism is free to operatemomentarily near the mid-point of each cycle, as described above, torelease all previously depressed set pins 500 and to permit the lockingof all set pins 500 that are depressed in accordance with each newmaster card perforation pattern. Thus, during cycles in which acomparison is sensed, the punch mechanism operates, in the usual manner,to transfer additional data from master cards to comparing detail card.However, when a non-comparison is sensed between master and detail carddesignative perforation patterns, sleeve 500 and cam I10 are rotated, asdescribed above, to place a high dwell of the cam in register withroller I'll. Bellcrank 112 is thereby rocked counter-clockwise to shiftlinkage 820, MI and stud 825 to the right to permit spring 8 I 5 to rockarm 8 I 0 clockwise. Inasmuch as the actuation of cam "0 occurs at thebeginning of a cycle, at which time the retract mechanism is in theposition shown in Fig. 1 (see also Fig. 5) this movement merely servesto move shoulder 8 against the side of stud 8I6. However, when push rod552 is elevated by cam 560, near the mid-point of the cycle, it servesto rock arm 55I and shaft 548 to shift all looking slides 502 to theright to release all set pins 500 (as in Fig. 2). Arm 8 l 0 is therebyelevated and latching shoulder 8II is engaged with stud 8I6 by spring 8I 5 whereby shaft 548 is locked in rocked position to retain all lockingslides 502 in their rightward positions. Due to the coaction betweenroller 546 and the vertical face 545 on the arms 542 supporting bail bar54I, this condition is maintained when the set pin box moves downwardly,and is continued as long as roller 'l'lI remains in register with a highdwell of cam I10. Thus, when a noncomparison is sensed, locking slides502 are rendered inefiective to lock set pins 500, and the transfer ofadditional data to non-comparing detail cards is prevented.

When another comparison is sensed sleeve 600 and cam 110 are againactuated, as described above, to place another low dwell of the cam inregister with roller 'l'lI, whereby spring 826 tends to move linkage820, 82I and stud 825 to the left to disengage shoulder 8 from stud 8I6.However, due to the fact that the force exerted by the springs that tendto restore locking slides 502 to the left is substantially greater thanthat exerted by spring 826, shoulder 8 remains engaged with stud 8I6until cam 560 again rocks arm 55L When this occurs, disengagement ofshoulder 8I3 and stud 8I6 is effected by spring 826 to permit theresumption of the normal operation of the punch retract mechanism.

To effect the second of the above mentioned operations, punch controllever 800 is set in its lower position L (Fig. 1A). This setting shiftslink 80I to the left and causes stud 805 to rock arm 8I0counter-clockwise to maintain latching shoulder 8| I out of engagementwith stud 8| 6, but tensions spring 8I5 to urge latching shoulder M3 onarm 8 I 2 into engagement with stud 8 I6. During cycles in which a.non-comparison is sensed between master and detail card designativeperforation patterns, a high dwell of cam 110 is in register with roller11 I. Bell-crank 112 is thereby rocked counter-clockwise to shiftlinkage 820, Ml to the right to cause stud 825 to rock arm 8I2 clockwiseand retain latching shoulder 8I3 out of engagement with stud 8 I 6. Inthis position of the parts, shoulder M3 is ineffective to engage studBIG so that the set pin retract mechanism is free to operate momentarilynear the mid-point of each cycle, as described above, to release allpreviously depressed set pins 500, and to permit the locking of all setpins 500 that are depressed in accordance with each new master cardperforation pat- 75 tern. Thus, during cycles in which a non-comparisonis sensed, the punch mechanism operates, in the usual manner, totransfer additional data from master cards to non-comparing detailcards. However, when a comparison is sensed between master and detailcard designative perforation patterns, sleeve 600 and cam 110 arerotated, as'

described above, to place a low dwell of the cam in register with roller11l. Spring 828 is then free to shift linkage 820, 8M and stud 825 tothe left to permit spring M5 to rock arm 8|2 counterclockwise. Inasmuchas this actuation of cam occurs at the beginning of a cycle, at whichtime the retract mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 1 (see alsoFig. 5), this movement merely serves to move shoulder 8| 3 against theside of stud 816. However, when push rod 552 is elevated by cam 560,near the mid-point of the cycle, it serves to rock arm 55l and shaft 548to shift all looking slides 502. to the right to release all set pins500 (as in Fig. 2). Arm H2 is thereby elevated and latching shoulder 813is engaged with stud M6 by spring 815 whereby shaft 548 is locked inrocked position to retain all locking slides 502 in their rightwardpositions. Due to the coaction between roller 546 and the vertical face545 on the arms 542 supporting bail bar 54!, this condition ismaintained when the set pin box moves downwardly, and is continued aslong as roller IH remains in register with a low dwell of cam 110. Thus,when a comparison is sensed, locking slides 502 are rendered ineffectiveto lock set pins 500, and the transfer of additional data to comparingdetail cards is prevented.

When another non-comparison is sensed sleeve 600 and cam 110 are againactuated, as described above, to place another high dwell of the cam inregister with roller TH whereby bell-crank 112 is rockedcounter-clockwise to move link 820 to the right, and through spring 822,tends to move link 82l and stud 825 to the right to disengage shoulder8l3 from stud 8l6. However, due to the fact that the force exerted bythe springs that tend to restore locking slides 502 to the left issubstantially greater than that exerted by spring 822, shoulder 8remains engaged with stud 8 I 8, and spring 822 is momentarilytensioned, until cam 560 againrocks arm 55L When this occurs,disengagement of shoulder 8H and stud M6 is effected by spring 822 topermit the resumption of the normal operation of the punch retractmechanism.

To effect the third of the above mentioned operations, punch controllever 800 is set in its intermediate position I (Fig. 1A). This settingshifts link 80| to its middle position as in Figs. 1 and 2), and placesstud 805 in vertical alignment with stud 8l6 wherein arms 8) and Eli areheld at a sufficient angle to prevent the engagement of either latchingshoulder 8H or 8|3 with stud 8l6. In this position of the parts, the setpin retract mechanism is free to operate momentarily near the mid-pointof each cycle, as described above, to release all previously depressedset pins 500, and to permit the locking of all set pins 500 that aredepressed in accordance with each new master card perforation pattern.Thus, during each cycle, the punch mechanism operates, in the usualmanner, to transfer additional data from a master card to a detail cardwhether there is a comparison or a non-comparison between thedesignative perforation patterns in such cards.

In connection with the transfer of perforation patterns it will be notedthat when the punch signative perforation patterns are translator isprovided with a full complement of translator wires 490 in each column,the entire perforation pattern of a master card, including designativedata as well as additional data, is transferred to the associated detailcard. Insofar as'transfers to detail cards with comparing'deconcerned,as in the first of the above'mentioned operations, this arrangementpresents no difliculty since it merely results in passing punch gagsthrough perforations already contained in the designative field of thecomparing detail card. However, insofar as transfers to detail cardswith non-comparing designative perfortion patterns are concerned, asv inthe second and third of the above mentioned operations, this arrangementwould cause the master card designative perforation pattern to besuperimposed on the designative perforation pattern already containedin. the non-comparing detail card. Inasmuch as this would spoil thedesignative pattern in the detail card, it is necessary, in the lattertypes of operation, to remove or render ineffective the translator wires490 that correspond to the card columns in which the designativeperforation patterns are contained.

It will be noted that the mechanism of the present invention, when lever800 is in its intermediate setting, permits the several other cams forcontrolling card feeding, card sorting, or machine stopping that may bemounted on sleeve 600, as described in the cited differentially theirrespective operations in the usual mannerwhen comparisons ornon-comparisons are sensed, but renders cam 110 wholly ineffective forcontrolling punching operations even though it may have been selectedfor operation by operation selector dial 100. Whereas, when lever 800 isset in either its upper or lower position, punch control cam T10operates conjointly with any selected combination of card feeding, cardsorting, or machine stopping cams to effect the desired card handlingoperation. The various groups of card handling operations that may beeffected at a single setting of the operation selector dial on astatistical card comparing machine of the type disclosed in the citedpatent, when equipped with the present invention, are graphicallyillustrated in Fig. 7. group A of Fig. 7, for example, it will be notedthat when card sorting control cam 180 is ren-. dered effective by meansof operation selector patent, to control a Referring to dial 100, inaddition to punch control cam 110 and any desired card feeding controlcam, the machine may be conditioned to perform three diiferentoperations, corresponding to operations 1, 9, and 21 of Fig. 74 of thecited patent, merely by manipulating punch control lever 800. In thepreviously disclosed machine, a separate setting of the operationselector dial is required to effect each operation. In addition, at thesame setting of the operation selector dial, the present machine may beset to effect operation 1 of Fig. '74 of the cited patent, merely byremoving the punch translator. In the latter instance, since the removalof the punch translator renders the punch mechanism wholly ineffective,the setting of lever 800 is immaterial and has been designated by an Xin Fig. 7.

Similarly, the groups B to I, inclusive, of Fig. 7, indicate the varioussets of operations, corresponding to operations described in the citedpatent and indicated on Fig. 74 thereof, that may be efiected bymanipulation of lever 800 and the punch translator, at a given settingof operation selector dial 100, when punch control cam is renderedeffective conjointly with sorting control cam 180 and/or stoppingcontrol arm of the cited patent, in each of the several combinationalsettings of these cams. Obviously, in each instance, any one of theseveral card feeding control cams described in the patent may also berendered effective to obtain the type of card feeding required in aspecific :accounting or statistical. system.

Thus, the present invention, when applied to a statistical cardcomparing machine of the type disclosed in the cited patent, renderssuch a machine exceedingly more flexible and capable of performing asubstantially greater number of card handling operations.

In Fig. 3 there is a partial illustration of a typical application ofthe present invention. In this figure, which corresponds to Fig. 56 ofthe cited patent, there is disclosed a portion of the operation selectormechanism comprising the actuating mechanism for sleeve 600 and thecontrol cams thereon; operation selector dial M10; punch control camI'll! and its associated linkage I12, I13, 114, etc., as describedhereinabove, including punch control lever 800; card sorting control camI80 and its associated linkage 182, I83, 184, etc., as disclosed inFigs. 56 and '71 of the cited patent, for sorting comparing andnoncomparing master and detail cards; and card feed control disc H0 andits associated linkage H2, H3, H4, etc., as disclosed in Figs. 56 and 32of the cited patent, for effecting master and detail card feeding duringeach machine cycle. When the above mentioned control cams are renderedeffective simultaneously at a setting of operation selector dial 100,the machine may be conditioned to perform either of the card handlingoperations included in Group A" of Fig. 7 merely by manipulating punchcontrol lever 800, or by withdrawing the punch translator. In eithercase, the master and detail cards will be handled and disposed of in themanner indicated in connection with the corresponding operation numberin Fig. '75 of the cited patent. tional operation of card feeding, cardsorting, or machine stopping may be employed in conjunction with thepunch control mechanism of the present invention by mounting suchcontrol cams on sleeve 60!] and arranging to render them effectiveselectively under control of the operation selector dial 100. Althoughspecific card handling problems are not considered herein, the utilityof this arrangement will be readily apparent to those skilled in theapplication of record controlled machines to accounting and statisticalsystems.

While I have described what I consider to be a highly desirableembodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many changes in formcould be made without departing from the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for handling master and detail records and including acomparing mechanism for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected portions of such records, thecombination of a punch mechanism for transferring additional perforationpatterns from master records to detail records, a plurality of punchdisabling means to prevent the transfer of perforation patterns, meansunder the control of the comparing mechanism to render one of said punchdisabling means ineffective when a comparison is sensed and to render asecond of said punch disabling means in- Obviously, any desired combinaeffective when a non-comparison is sensed, and additional means settableto render said punch disabling means ineffective selectively, regardlessof the action of the comparing mechanism.

2. In a machine for handling master and detail records and including acomparing mechanism for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected portions of such records, thecombination of a punch mechanism for transferring additional perforationpatterns from master records to detail records, a plurality of punchdisabling means to prevent the transfer of perforation patterns, meansunder control of the comparing mechanism to render one of said punchdisabling means ineffective when a comparison is sensed and to render asecond of said punch disabling means ineffective when a non-comparisonis sensed, and additional means settable to render said punch disablingmeans ineffective selectively or concomitantly, regardless of the actionof the comparing mechanism.

3. In a machine for handling master and detail records, including acomparing mechanism for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected portions of such records; thecombination of a punch mechanism for transferring additional perforationpatterns from master records to detail records; said punch mechanismincluding a plurality of set pins selectable under control of the masterrecords, locking slides operative to retain selected set pins inposition to effect punching, and means to render said locking slidesineffective momentarily during each machine cycle; a plurality ofdisabling means to retain the locking slides in ineffective positionwhereby the transfer of perforation patterns is prevented; means undercontrol of the comparing mechanism to render one of said disabling meansineffective when a comparison is sensed, and to render asecond of saiddisabling means ineffective when a non-comparison is sensed, andadditional means settable to render said disabling means ineffectiveselectively, regardless of the action of the comparing mechanism.

4. In a machine for handling master and detail records, including acomparing mechanism for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected portions of such records; thecombination of a punch mechanism for transferring additional perforationpatterns from master records to detail records; said punch mechanismincluding a plurality of set pins selectable under control of the masterrecords, locking slides operative to retain selected set pins inposition to effect punching, and means to render said locking slidesineifective momentarily during each machine cycle; a plurality ofdisabling means to retainthe locking slides in ineffective positionwhereby the transfer of perforation patterns is prevented; means undercontrol of the comparing mechanism to render one of said disabling meansineffective when a comparison is sensed, and to render a second of saiddisabling means ineffective when a non-comparison is sensed, andadditional means settable to render said disabling means ineffectiveselectively or concomitantly, regardless of the action of the comparingmechanism.

5. In a machine for handling master and detail records, including acomparing mechanism for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected portions of such records; thecombination of a punch mecha- 75 nism for transferring additionalperforation patterns from master records to detail records; said punchmechanism including a plurality of set pins selectable under control ofthe master records, locking slides operative to retain selected set pinsin position to effect punching, and a retract mechanism operative duringeach machine cycle to render said locking slides ineffective momentarilyfor retaining selected set pins; a pair of spring urged latches toretain said retract mechanism in operated position whereby the lockingof selected set pins is prevented; means under control of the comparingmechanism to render one of said latches inefiective when a comparison issensed, andto render the other of said latches ineflf'ective when anon-comparison is sensed, and additional means settable to render saidlatches ineffective selectively, regardless of the action of thecomparing mechanism.

6. In a machine for handling master and detail records, including acomparing mechanism for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected portions of such records; thecombination of a punch mechanism for transferring additional perforationpatterns from master records to detail records; said punch mechanismincluding a plurality of set pins selectable under control of the masterrecords, locking slides operative to retain selected set pins inposition to effect punching, and a retract mechanism operative duringeach machine cycle to render said locking slides ineffective momentarilyfor retaining selected set pins; a

pair of spring urged latches to retain said retract less of the actionof the comparing mechanism.,

KARL J. BRAUN.

